Canadian Magazine Industry News
12 January 2012, TORONTO
Rogers sends replacement magazine to its Harrowsmith Country Life subscribers
Readers who used the Rogers Magazine Service to subscribe to the now defunct Harrowsmith Country Life have been sent a replacement title to the long-standing country lifestyle magazine.
A letter (and Winter 2011/2012 edition of Garden Making) from the Rogers Magazine Service went to Harrowsmith subscribers recently, noting Garden Making was being sent to them in lieu of Harrowsmith.
There were roughly 2,000 subscribers to Harrowsmith through the Rogers Magazine Service, but the full subscription base of Harrowsmith at its close is not known. Its estimated subscription revenue for 2010 was almost $1.5 million.
Garden Making is a relatively new but already award-winning quarterly magazine directed at Canadian gardeners. The magazine is published by Inspiring Media in Niagara-on-the-Lake, with Michael Fox, a senior vice president at Rogers Publishing, listed as publisher. However, Garden Making is independent and not affiliated with Rogers.
The letter states subscribers will receive Garden Making for the duration of the Harrowsmith subscription they have already paid for. Following that, subscribers have the option to continue receiving Garden Making for $19.95 a year.
Harrowsmith Country Life was last published by Malcolm Publishing. Several of its staff were suddenly informed last July they were out of a job, according to a former employee. The magazine was launched in the mid-1970's.
A letter (and Winter 2011/2012 edition of Garden Making) from the Rogers Magazine Service went to Harrowsmith subscribers recently, noting Garden Making was being sent to them in lieu of Harrowsmith.
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The Winter 2011/12 issue of Garden Making
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There were roughly 2,000 subscribers to Harrowsmith through the Rogers Magazine Service, but the full subscription base of Harrowsmith at its close is not known. Its estimated subscription revenue for 2010 was almost $1.5 million.
Garden Making is a relatively new but already award-winning quarterly magazine directed at Canadian gardeners. The magazine is published by Inspiring Media in Niagara-on-the-Lake, with Michael Fox, a senior vice president at Rogers Publishing, listed as publisher. However, Garden Making is independent and not affiliated with Rogers.
The letter states subscribers will receive Garden Making for the duration of the Harrowsmith subscription they have already paid for. Following that, subscribers have the option to continue receiving Garden Making for $19.95 a year.
Harrowsmith Country Life was last published by Malcolm Publishing. Several of its staff were suddenly informed last July they were out of a job, according to a former employee. The magazine was launched in the mid-1970's.
— Jeff Hayward
Most Recent News Comment
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| Jaded says: | |
Wow, Torstar really seems to be on a mission to bankrupt one magazine after another.... |
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| Lorene Shyba says: | |
Full of terrific information, Thanks!... |
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I have sent letters to Malcolm Publishing requesting a refund - without success of course. What I find disheartening is a lack of respect from the publisher or from the Montreal Better Business Bureau - even if the response was to say "sorry - your money is gone". At least it would represent some sort of responsibility on the part of the publisher.
Is there an association of publishers in Canada? I could not find an active one. Cannot other publishers "shame" Malcolm to do the right thing and refund the folks who supported this fine magazine for many years? The Garden Making substitution is a step in the right direction.
Although the commentary on this item is typical of what I read on this site, it still surprises me how little so many participants know about the business they are (allegedly) in. Put it down to Friday?